Gates only focused his 2008 contributions on the presidential race. He did not donate to any other candidate -- Republican or Democrat -- running for office that cycle.

Gates' political contributions before the 2008 cycle have been sparing.

He gave Clinton $1,000 during her 2006 Senate re-election effort, but did not share his wealth with any other candidate. Until that contribution to Clinton, he had not made any donation since 1994. Altogether, Gates has donated $6,800 during the past two decades. None of his money has gone into Republican coffers.

Gates' Democratic leanings are typical of professors. Nearly three-quarters of the education industry's contributions during the past two decades have gone to Democrats, according to Center for Responsive Politics data.

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Between 2007 and 2008, teachers, professors, and administrators donated a record-high $56.6 million to federal candidates and committees. More than 80 percent of that total went to Democrats.